Six Mardi Gras Events in Boston

With two feet of snow on the ground, we are clearly nowhere near New Orleans. Nevertheless, today is Mardi Gras, and itâ€™s time to â€ślet the good times roll,â€ť or as they say in French, laissez les bons temps rouler. So party-goers, prepare to don those vibrant masks and beaded necklaces and, of course, feast like fatties at these upcoming Fat Tuesday events in Boston:

Le Mardi Gras

Perhaps the closest youâ€™ll get to Carnival New Orleans in Boston is if you check out this fifth annual Mardi Gras Beehive celebration with live music by Danny Heath and Wali Ali, a delicious Cajun-inspired menu, and Beehiveâ€™s famous specialty drinks. Chef Rebecca Newell will whip up some NOLA-style meals like crispy pork roast with creole dirty rice and pickled okra, and green gumbo with gulf shrimp, collard greens, spinach and turnip greens, among others. After dinner, take advantage of the dance floor calling your name.

If you donâ€™t mind spending a few extra bucks for a great cause, check out the Copley Square celebration, which will have live music, a dinner buffet, and prizes, and will bring New Orleansâ€™s French Quarter to the Back Bay. Guests are welcome to wear festive Mardi Gras outfits, and proceeds will benefit The Friends of Copley Square, an organization that assists the City of Boston in the preservation of Copley Square.

Mardi Gras festivities are not often kid-friendly. Join in on one of two hour-long celebrations for the whole family at Curious George with story time and craft-making. Kids can make their own masks, beads, and other fun themed accessories. Perfect for children ages 2-6.

Wear your best Fat Tuesday costumes to Darrylâ€™s Corner Bar & Kitchen for a chance to win a $100 restaurant gift card or a Sunday Jazz Buffet Brunch for four. The event will feature Henri Smithâ€™s New Orleans Friends & Flavours, with a menu and cocktails specialized for the wild holiday. As Darrylâ€™s puts it, â€śAll you saints (and sinners) will have a big fat time.â€ť Sounds like reason enough, right?

Sunday was the Chinese New Year, and today is Fat Tuesday. We have two reasons to hold a giant celebration (even if you already partied it up in Chinatown or elsewhere this weekend), and the Regattabar at the Charles Hotel recognizes this. The Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, described as a â€śfunk & street beat improvisational brass band,â€ť will play a special show in honor of Mardi Gras and the Year of the Snake. Mixing Cajun and Chinese traditions, the concert will surely prove to be a crazy fun time, if not interesting at the very least.

Smokenâ€™ Joe’s will also be doing its part in bringing New Orleans to Boston today. Enjoy a Mardi Gras-themed party with live performers Eddie Scheerâ€™s Tuesday Night All-Stars with Joe Bargar, Myanna, Bobby Gus, Mark Paquin, and Randy Bramwell. And of course, there will be one-of-a-kind menu items, several of which one might stumble upon down south. Think:Â crawfishÂ onÂ crawfishÂ onÂ crawfish, Cajun grilled shrimp, and more.